Nielsen, 84, was known for his roles in "Airplane!" and the "Naked Gun" franchise. The Canadian-born actor began his stage and screen career in the early 1950s and appeared in dozens of films and television shows in the Canada and the U.S.

Speaking to Manitoba radio station CJOB68, Nielsen's nephew Doug Nielsen said that the actor had been in the hospital with pneumonia for about 12 days and that the infection had taken an increasing toll in recent days.

"Today at 5:30, with his friends and his wife Barbaree by his side he just fell asleep and passed away," Doug Nielsen said.